*Cast on 8 sts at the beginning of next row, knit back along these 8 sts and knit 18 sts. Turn, leaving the remaining 18 sts on a spare needle or waste thread. (I use a circular needle, and I just leave these remaining sts on the needle, which works for me.)

Cast on 8 sts at beginning of next row and purl across these 8 and the following 26 sts.

Work 4 more rows in stocking stitch.

Continuing in stocking stitch, cast off 8 sts at the beginning of the next two rows. 18 sts remain.

Knit 6 rows in stocking stitch.

Join in black wool and work 2 rows in stocking stitch. Break off black and continue in yellow.

Knit 6 rows in stocking stitch.

Next row: [k2tog] to end. 9 sts.

Purl 1 row.

Next row: [k2tog] twice, k1, [k2tog] twice.

Break yellow wool, leaving enough yarn to sew up seam around head and top of arm. Thread the end through remaining 5 sts.

Rejoin yellow wool to the 18 sts on the spare needle and repeat from * to match the first side.

Sew up seams around the head and along the tops of the arms.

Hands: Now using black, pick up and knit 8 sts along the 'cuff' edges of each arm.

Purl 1 row.

[K2tog] 4 times. 4 sts.

Purl 1 row.

[K2 tog]twice. 2 sts.

Break thread, pull thread through remaining sts and sew down seam of hand.

Sew up seams under arms and down the side of body.

Bib:

Using blue wool, pick up and knit 8 sts in the centre front at the top of the blue section.

Work 8 rows in stocking st.

Bib strap:

[K1, slip this stitch back onto the left hand needle]. Keep repeating this about 30 times or until the strap is long enough to cross over at the back as shown.

Fasten off.

Rejoin blue wool to remaining seven sts. Cast off 6, and make the second strap in the same way as the first.

(You could also make the straps by crocheting a chain instead of knitting.)

Secure the straps, crossing them over at the back.

Eyes for smaller two-eyed minion: (make 2)

Using grey cast on 25 sts.

Change to cream or white.

[k1,k2tog, k2tog], repeat to end. 15 sts.

Knit 1 row.

[k1,k2tog], repeat to end. 10 sts.

Knit 1 row.

Change to black.

[k2tog], repeat to end.

Fasten off by pulling yarn through all remaining 5 sts on needle. Leave approx 8" end to embroider eye.

Bend work into circle and neatly sew up side seams.

Using black wool, embroider a circle around the black inner sts to make a solid pupil.

Using grey, attach eyes to the head on the black stripe by sewing around the edge.

Eye for one-eyed minion.

Using grey cast on 40 sts.

Change to cream or white.

[k1,k2tog, k2tog], repeat to end. 24 sts.

Knit 1 row.

[k1,k2tog], repeat to end. 16 sts.

Knit 1 row.

Change to black.

[k2tog], repeat to end.

Fasten off by pulling yarn through all remaining 8 sts on needle. Leave approx 8" end to embroider eye.

Bend work into circle and neatly sew up side seams.

Using black wool, embroider a circle around the black inner sts to make a solid pupil.

Using grey, attach eye to the head on the black stripe by sewing around the edge.

To finish, embroider a smile using black wool. Make hair in black, either by looping short lengths of black wool on top of head or by sewing a few long sts either side of a parting.

As usual I hope you enjoy making this pattern. Please leave me a comment if you do, or if you have any problems with the pattern, please let me know.

Hi Janet. I am knitting items for a children's charity and I am really interesting in knitting your CLOWN puppet pattern. I'll be creating a Ravelry project page for each of them, but I don't see that particular pattern listed on Ravelry. I do want to make sure that I credit you for the pattern, so if nothing else I will link them to your Teddy Bear pattern, which I see is there. But would you consider adding your Clown pattern to the Ravelry pattern database? They are just so cute and I think that they will be fun to make. Thank you so much for making your patterns available for free!!! Marie